Object

Gypsy and Traveller Site Options

Representation ID: 58769

Received: 18/07/2013

Respondent: Miles of Tiles Ltd

Representation Summary:

Local GP surgeries are either full or not served by public transport meaning no convenient access.
Radford Primary School is almost full and will be oversubscribed if the proposed new houses are built in the village. Harbury Primary School is also full.
The public transport is satisfactory but residents are likely to use their own transport. There is a bus stop on the B425 but no pedestrian links from it to the potential site.
Site will generate hundreds of traffic movements daily adding to peak time delays on a fast road that is designated a High Risk Route by the County Council. Being on the junction of two major roads the access may require highway improvements but it's unwise to introduce more traffic here. Also any new bus shelters, pedestrian crossing, street lighting etc will add to the urbanization of the area.
Fosse Way a very busy main road which creates the potential for noise and disturbance to site residents
Site has no mains sewerage, drainage or gas and only a limited rural electricity supply line so fails to meet the Council's site requirement criteria.
At this point the Fosse Way is on its original alignment so considerable archaeological remains will be destroyed as previous remains have been found locally. Therefore it's important that archaeology and heritage of the area can be recovered and safeguarded prior to any site works.
The proposed site will cover 0.8 hectare (8000 m²) which is four times the size of the Exhibition Centre and could increase if working space is also included. The large number and variety of caravans and vehicles in the bottom of the valley cannot be integrated into the landscape without harming the visual appearance and character of the area. Also the historic traditional Woodlands provide habitat for birds and small mammals (Pipistrelle bats, great crested newts) and would be greatly affected by the site and possible intrusion and activities of younger residents.
The village of Radford Semele over 1.5 miles away and there is a very small community in Fosse Way (20 houses) within half a mile of the site. The 120 residents on site will absorb rather than integrate with this small local community so will not encourage peaceful and integrated co-existence.
The proposed site has no mains sewerage, drainage or gas and the electricity supply is a limited rural line which will possibly need upgrading to an increase in demand.
The perception of the site will impact on the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre which is likely to lose events and make it impossible to continue operating resulting in job losses. Local economy will lose the money spent on accommodation, food, entertainment etc from visitors to the Exhibition Centre (c£5m). Additionally several other local businesses (employing between 50 and 60 people) would be caused significant difficulties by this development.
Unauthorised expansion from the site onto agricultural land could mean contractors would not risk tractors and equipment and together with crop damage and possible rubbish deposits could result in the land becoming unsightly and unfarmed.
Fosse Alpaca and Kune Kune Pigs are located close to the site, and it is important to protect the animals from diseases (foot and mouth, bTB and Parro virus) which can be spread by human trespass and unvaccinated dogs. The animals graze on fields between the site and the Grand Union Canal.
The site will be major invasion into the openness of the countryside and will be an irreversible urbanisation of the entire area and make further 'ribbon' development harder to resist.

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